Red tides sweep into 11 beaches from Sai Kung to Repulse Bay
Eleven beaches across the city were closed yesterday because of red tides. Red flags were flying at the beaches of Silverstrand and Clear Water Bay in Sai Kung; Silvermine Bay on Lantau; Lo So Shing and Hung Shing Yeh on Lamma; Tung Wan and Kwun Yam on Cheung Chau; and Repulse Bay, South Bay and Chung Hom Kok on southern Hong Kong Island. Red tides were also found in Middle Bay Beach, in Southern District, on Sunday. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said the red tide at Silverstrand was caused by a type of algae called Trichodesmium erythraeum, while the others were caused by Phaeocystis globosa. Both species are rare in Hong Kong waters and are non-toxic. No fish deaths have been reported.
Rapist jailed for nearly five years
A jobless man was jailed for four years and 10 months for raping a teenage girl. The Court of First Instance heard the girl was raped after she had a joy ride in Tin Shui Wai with Tang Chun-pang, 29, on August 8, 2006. Tang fled to the mainland the next morning and was arrested in February this year when he returned to Hong Kong. Tang, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury on Monday.
Man admits child sex charges
A 50-year-old man admitted having sex with his 11-year-old step-daughter, who lived in a children's home, and assaulting her in 2007 and 2008 when she spent weekends at his Hung Hom flat. He pleaded guilty in the Court of First Instance to four charges of unlawful sex with a child, one of indecent assault and one of common assault. Sentencing was adjourned to December 1.